Understanding psychology basics can help teachers to be more confident, more effective, and to increase student success.
Psychology and education are closely related. Psychology is the study of the mind and human behavior. This knowledge lies at the core of everything we do as educators, and can have a significant impact in the classroom and beyond.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of psychology for educators, 4 key concepts to know, and easy ways teachers can learn more.
When educators understand how the mind works and influences behavior, we can:
Understanding some key psychology concepts can be eye-opening and help us recognize why our students behave and respond as they do. Armed with that knowledge, we can apply tools and strategies that boost learning and reduce stress for everyone.
Plus, learning psychology basics provides insights we can use to better relate to everyone around us (not only students).
Here are a few examples.
Attachment theory is a framework that helps us understand the importance of healthy relationships and how to nurture them. Humans begin forming relationships in early childhood to establish a safe and secure base from which to explore and become independent.
Needless to say, children’s relationships with their teachers are critical to their learning and development. Understanding attachment theory and applying the concept in the classroom helps teachers to build rapport, grow trust, and create an environment where our students feel supported and ready to learn.
Abraham Maslow described the hierarchy of basic human needs, and the fact that foundational needs must be met before we can address higher-level needs. Benjamin Bloom’s Taxonomy explains the sequence of skills needed for cognitive learning. So the idea “Maslow Before Bloom” means that students’ basic needs, including food and safety, must be met before they can begin to tackle the simplest learning objective.
Understanding that concept can shed light on some of our biggest challenges in education and help us implement effective solutions.
Learn more: Managing Fear: How to Talk to Kids About Violence
Every human behavior has a motivation behind it. In fact, there are 4 types of motivators that serve as the “functions of behavior.”
When our students behave inappropriately at school, identifying the motivator can help us respond more effectively. When we get the “why,” we can change undesirable behaviors by teaching replacement behaviors to get what they need in a more acceptable way.
Learn more: Ask about our live PD presentation, “Practical Ideas to Address Emotions and Behavior,” where we explore the 4 Functions of Behavior.
The concept of reinforcement from behavioral psychology is incredibly useful for us in education. In simple terms, reinforcement means shaping behavior using positive and/or negative consequences.
Reinforcement happens whether or not we are intentionally doing it. In the example above where a student is acting out because they want attention, we reinforce that behavior when we shout at them to stop. Because the student received the attention they crave, they are likely to continue the behavior.
However, when we respond more positively and learn to use reinforcement proactively, we can significantly improve student behavior.
Every teacher doesn’t need a degree in educational psychology to improve their teaching skills and help students succeed. We can reap huge rewards by learning specific insights that address our daily challenges and tactics to use in the classroom.
As part of Thrive’s mission to connect the dots between mental health and academic success, we provide a variety of resources to help school staff get grounded in psychology basics and master game-changing classroom strategies. There’s something to meet the needs of every educator and school district.
We love sharing our expertise in quick, easy-to-consume formats for busy educators. Visit our resource center for downloadable tip sheets, articles, and video content that you can share with colleagues.
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Thrive offers a wealth of online, asynchronous video presentations for teachers, paraprofessionals, child study team, and school administrators. Check out our catalog.
We also have Parent Academy and Student Academy content that you can share with your school community.
Want to raise your entire staff’s knowledge and capabilities quickly? Ask about our half-day and full-day presentation: Positive Behavior: Understanding & Responding to Emotions.
Empower your team to manage classroom behavior, maximize student mental health, and boost academic performance. Our blended-learning program includes: